Six international rights bodies, including United States-based Human Rights Watch have urged Bangladesh interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to immediately end arbitrary arrests and detentions and filing politically motivated cases.
In a joint letter to the chief adviser, they, however, underlined the need for further steps to pursue justice for serious abuses during previous regime of Awami League-led by Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country on August 5, 2024 amid the student-led mass uprising.
鈥榃hile the Interim Government must take further steps to pursue justice for serious abuses under the previous government, it should immediately end ongoing arbitrary arrests and detentions, including cases against members of the Awami League that appear politically motivated and lack credible evidence,鈥� said the letter issued on October 19 regarding follow-up on 鈥楬uman Rights CSO Meeting during UNGA 2025鈥� held in the past month in New York.
More than one year after the July Revolution and the end of Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 AL government, the interim government has taken some critical steps to restore basic freedoms, initiate legal reforms, and investigate enforced disappearances and other abuses, it mentioned.
鈥業n the narrow window prior to the 2026 elections, we urge you to expand human rights protections and ensure Bangladesh has the strong institutions needed to guarantee free and fair elections and guard against future backsliding,鈥� said the letter issued by聽 CIVICUS, Committee to Protect Journalists, Fortify Rights, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and Tech Global Institute among others.
It said that they were deeply concerned that the security sector remains largely unreformed and that members of security forces had not been fully cooperative with accountability and reform efforts.
They recommended ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for serious abuses during the July Revolution and over the past fifteen years, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and torture.
They also called for ending the ban on Awami League activities under the Anti-Terrorism Act which excessively restricts freedom of association, assembly, and expression and has been used to arrest Awami League members and perceived supporters engaged in peaceful activities.
Bangladesh鈥檚 International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) took the critical step of bringing charges and issuing arrest warrants against active and former military officers鈥搃ncluding from the Rapid Action Battalion and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence鈥揻or enforced disappearances and torture as crimes against humanity, the letter mentioned, suggesting that the military should provide its full support for these accountability efforts, including by respecting the jurisdiction of the ICT, a civilian court, over members of the military.
They also recommended that the Interim Government should declare a moratorium on the death penalty, including for cases under the jurisdiction of the ICT.
They asked for criminalizing enforced disappearances in line with international standards and support the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances to fulfill its mandate.
The letter said that the Interim Government should ensure the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has adequate time and resources to complete its mandate, and security forces should fully cooperate with investigations, including by guaranteeing unfettered access to detention sites and sharing all relevant records.
The rights bodies suggested reforming the National Human Rights Commission in line with the Paris Principles to ensure its effectiveness and independence from political influence over its functions, member selection, and finances.
They also asked for either repealing or amending in line with international standards the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025 and abusive laws that have been used to restrict freedom of expression and other fundamental rights including the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Special Powers Act, the Official Secrets Act, and criminal defamation under the Penal Code.
